Wayne Kramer

Wayne Kramer and his wife Margaret are "The Beast and the Angel," a short film from Adam McKay and Shira Piven that appears as the third segment in "Lifecasters." Kramer is best known as former lead guitarist for 1960s Detroit-based revolutionary punk rock prototypes MC5....

In Kramer's story, we see him through archival footage leading MC5 in an incendiary version of their signature song "Kick Out The Jams" juxtaposed with new footage detailing his eventual spiral into drug addiction and subsequent incarceration for selling cocaine. "Wayne hit rock bottom and then found new ways to go even lower," Gaudet says. "To see where he is now, it's amazing how he reinvented himself."

Clean and sober since 1999, much of Kramer's energy these days is directed toward going back to jail - this time with a truck full of guitars. He is one of the co-founders of Jail Guitar Doors, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing musical instruments to help rehabilitate prisoners and introduce them to a second act in life through music. - [The Main Edge]

New PBS series Lifecasters debuts tomorrow on affiliates around the country and you can watch the show at PBS.org too. Tonight at the Walter Reade Theatre at Lincoln Center there's a premiere event hosted by Jeremy Piven -- his older sister Shira codirected the Kramer segment with her husband Adam McKay (who directed Anchorman among other things) -- and feature a live set from Wayne Kramer. Tickets ($10) are still available.

Meanwhile, the MC5 guitarist will perform on Thursday (2/7) at Bowery Electric and it's his first solo NYC show in 10 years (not counting the Lifecasters event). He'll be performing with a full band. Tickets are still available and and show also has Threats, Faith, and Romans on the bill.

Flyer for the Bowery Electric show and Lifecasters trailer are below...

Continue reading "MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer appearing on new PBS series 'Lifecasters,' playing NYC premiere event and Bowery Electric"

photos by Amanda Hatfield

Telepathe at Glasslands - 7/18/12

Telepathe, Feathers, Eraas, and Faith (DJ) teamed up for a show at Glasslands last Wednesday (7/18). Pictures from that show are in this post.

It was one of multiple NYC shows for Telepathe this summer, including their DJ set at the Blondes show at Santos last Friday (7/20), and a show at Cameo on Augsut 2 with Laurel Halo and Xeno and Oaklander (tickets). Todd P also recently revealed that they will be the special guest at this Wednesday's (7/25) Summerscreen in McCarren Park with Vaz, Prince Rama and a screening of Dirty Dancing.

They're also playing The Rock Shop on August 28 with Blonds (not Blondes who they DJed with last Friday, but this Blonds), a secret co-headliner TBA and 2 hours of free Brooklyn Brewery beer. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

More pics from the Glasslands show and a list of updated Telepathe dates are below...

Continue reading "Telepathe played Glasslands w/ Feathers (pics), playing more shows (including Summerscreen and 1 w/ a secret co-headliner)"

Laurel Halo at MoMA PS1 in 2011 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Producer turned art pop wizard Laurel Halo and post-hardcore noisemaker turned producer Ital are teaming up for a tour together later this year. That tour hasn't been announced in full yet but a few dates have been revealed, including a NYC show at 285 Kent on September 21. That show, the DC date, and possibly others are also with M. Geddes Gengras and Magic Touch.

For Laurel Halo, the 285 Kent date is one of many upcoming shows in her hometown of Brooklyn, where she continues to play constantly. Laurel just played a show as part of The Maze last Friday (7/13), and she'll play the previously discussed show at Public Assembly on Saturday (7/21) with Pete Swanson, Noveller and Burning Star Core. Tickets for that show are still available. She's also got upcoming local shows in August, including one at Cameo Gallery on August 2 with Xeno and Oaklander and Telepathe. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

Still more: she'll play the Diamond Terrifier (aka Sam Hillmer of Zs) record release show for Kill the Self That Wants To Kill Yourself (due out 8/14 via Northern Spy and produced by Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear) at Littlefield on August 8 with Slava (who also plays countless local shows) and Bubbles. Tickets for that show are available. That show happens after Diamond Terrifier wraps up his monthly residency at Zebulon which happens every Tuesday (like tonight [7/17]). Like Laurel did, Diamond Terrifier also plays a Maze show. His is on July 28 with Amen Dunes, Kel Valhaal: Hunter Hunt-Hendrix, Psychic Reality, Dome Theater, and Das Racist DJs.

Speaking of Telepathe, they play Glasslands on Wednesday (7/18) with Feathers, ERAAS, and Faith. Tickets for that show are available. Faith recently remixed a Feathers song, which you can listen to below. Telepathe also DJ Santos on Friday (7/20 for a Last.fm event with Blondes, TEZEO and Andy Petr. Tickets for that show are available.

A list of all dates, a Pitchfork.tv video of Laurel Halo, and an Ital music video are below.

Continue reading "Laurel Halo touring w/ Ital, playing other NYC shows as usual; Telepathe have upcoming NYC shows too (dates)"